Usage of the character 三

3rd rank of candidates who passed the imperial examination
(hospital ranking) A-grade tertiary (the highest level) (abbr. for 三級甲等／三级甲等 (sānjíjiǎděng))

sānbèi

三倍

[三倍]

triple

sānqī

三七

[三七]

pseudoginseng (Panax pseudoginseng), hemostatic herb

sānxiǎo

三小

[三小]

(Tw) (vulgar) what the hell? (from Taiwanese 啥潲, Tai-lo pr. (siánn-siâ), equivalent to Mandarin 什麼／什么 (shénme))

sānbǎo

三宝

[三寶]

the Three Precious Treasures of Buddhism, namely: the Buddha 佛, the Dharma 法 (his teaching), and the Sangha 僧 (his monastic order)

sānjūn

三军

[三軍]

(in former times) upper, middle and lower army
army of right, center and left
(in modern times) the three armed services: Army, Navy and Air Force

Sānshān

三山

[三山]

Sanshan district of Wuhu city 蕪湖市／芜湖市 ( Wúhúshì), Anhui

sānchóng

三重

[三重]

treble

sānshēng

三牲

[三牲]

the three sacrificial animals (originally cow, sheep and pig; later pig, chicken and fish)

sānshí

三十

[三十]

thirty
30

fēngsān

封三

[封三]

inside back cover

sānjià

三价

[三價]

trivalent

Sānběi

三北

[三北]

China's three northern regions, 東北／东北 ( Dōngběi), 華北／华北 ( Huáběi) and 西北 ( Xīběi)

Sānyuán

三原

[三原]

Sanyuan County in Xianyang 咸陽／咸阳 ( Xiányáng), Shaanxi

sānfèi

三废

[三廢]

three types of waste product, namely: waste water 廢水／废水 (fèishuǐ), exhaust gas 廢氣／废气 (fèiqì), industrial slag 廢渣／废渣 (fèizhā)

bènsān

奔三

[奔三]

to be pushing 30

Sānyì

三义

[三義]

Sanyi township in Miaoli county 苗栗縣／苗栗县 ( Miáolìxiàn), northwest Taiwan

Sānshuǐ

三水

[三水]

Sanshui, a district of Foshan 佛山市 ( Foshán Shì), Guangdong

sānxiàng

三项

[三項]

three items
three events
three terms
tri-
trinomial, ternary (math.)
triathlon (abbr. for 三項全能／三项全能)

qísān

其三

[其三]

thirdly
the third

sānliú

三流

[三流]

third-rate
inferior

sānjí

三级

[三級]

grade 3
third class
category C

sāntiě

三铁

[三鐵]

triathlon (Tw)
(athletics) throwing events excluding the hammer throw (i.e. discus, javelin and shot put)

sānxián

三弦

[三弦]

sanxian, large family of 3-stringed plucked musical instruments, with snakeskin covered wooden soundbox and long neck, used in folk music, opera and Chinese orchestra

sānpào

三炮

[三炮]

(Northeastern dialect) simple-minded person

Sānfǎn

三反

[三反]

"Three Anti" campaign (anti-corruption, anti-waste, anti-bureaucracy), early PRC purge of 1951-52

Sānhé

三河

[三河]

Sanhe, county-level city in Langfang 廊坊 ( Lángfáng), Hebei

sāntǐ

三体

[三體]

trisomy

Sānsuì

三穗

[三穗]

Sansui county in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture 黔東南州／黔东南州 ( Qiándōngnánzhōu), Guizhou

sānwú

三无

[三無]

lacking three key attributes (or at least one of them)

biēsān

瘪三

[癟三]

(Wu dialect) bum
wretched-looking tramp who lives by begging or stealing

Sānxiá

三峡

[三峽]

Three Gorges on the Chang Jiang or Yangtze, namely: Qutang Gorge 瞿塘峽／瞿塘峡 ( Qútáng Xiá), Wuxia Gorge 巫峽／巫峡 ( Wū Xiá) and Xiling Gorge 西陵峽／西陵峡 ( Xīlíng Xiá)
Sanxia or Sanhsia town in New Taipei City 新北市 ( Xīnběishì), Taiwan

dàsān

大三

[大三]

third-year university student

Sāntián

三田

[三田]

Mita, Sanda, Mitsuda etc (Japanese surname or place name)

sāntōng

三通

[三通]

T-joint
T-piece
T-pipe
three links

sāndù

三度

[三度]

third (musical interval)

chūsān

初三

[初三]

third year in junior middle school

chángsān

长三

[長三]

(old) high-class prostitute

Sānzì

三自

[三自]

abbr. for 三自愛國教會／三自爱国教会 ( Sānzì Aìguó Jiàohuì), Three-Self Patriotic Movement

sānliǎng

三两

[三兩]

two or three

sāntiáo

三条

[三條]

three of a kind (poker)

Sān Jiào

三教

[三教]

the Three Doctrines (Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism)

sānyuán

三元

[三元]

(old) first place in civil service examinations at three levels: provincial 解元 (jièyuán), metropolitan 會元／会元 (huìyuán) and palace 狀元／状元 (zhuàngyuán)

sānjiāo

三膲

[三膲]

variant of 三焦 (sānjiāo)

sānwéi

三维

[三維]

three-dimensional
3D

zàisān

再三

[再三]

over and over again
again and again

Bēnsān

奔三

[奔三]

Pentium III microprocessor (abbr. for 奔騰三／奔腾三 ( Benténg Sān))

āsān

阿三

[阿三]

(derog.) an Indian

sānwéi

三围

[三圍]

BWH, abbr. for a woman's three measurements, namely: bust 胸圍／胸围 (xiōngwéi), waist 腰圍／腰围 (yāowéi) and hip 臀圍／臀围 (túnwéi)

sānxiāng

三厢

[三廂]

sedan (automobile body type)

Sānmín

三民

[三民]

Sanmin district of Kaohsiung city 高雄市 ( Gāoxióngshì), south Taiwan

sānfú

三伏

[三伏]

the three annual periods of hot weather, namely 初伏 (chūfú), 中伏 (zhōngfú) and 末伏 (mòfú), which run consecutively over a period from mid-July to late August

sāncì

三次

[三次]

third
three times
(math.) degree three, cubic (equation)

sānhún

三魂

[三魂]

three immortal souls in Daoism, representing spirit and intellect

sānyīn

三音

[三音]

third (musical interval, e.g. do-mi)

sānmèi

三昧

[三昧]

Samadhi (Buddhist term)

Sānwān

三湾

[三灣]

Sanwan township in Miaoli county 苗栗縣／苗栗县 ( Miáolìxiàn), northwest Taiwan

sānzhèn

三振

[三振]

to strike out
strikeout (baseball, softball)
(Tw) to ditch
to eliminate from consideration

sānjiāo

三焦

[三焦]

(TCM) the three truncal cavities (thoracic, abdominal and pelvic), known as the "triple heater" or "San Jiao"

Sānmén

三门

[三門]

Sanmen county in Taizhou 台州 ( Tāizhōu), Zhejiang

sānzú

三族

[三族]

(old) three generations (father, self and sons)
three clans (your own, your mother's, your wife's)

Sānlüè

三略

[三略]

see 黃石公三略／黄石公三略 ( Huáng Shígōng Sānlüè)

sāntuì

三退

[三退]

withdrawal from the Communist Party, the Communist Youth League, and the Young Pioneers of China

Sānyà

三亚

[三亞]

Sanya, prefecture-level city, Hainan

sānhuáng

三皇

[三皇]

the three legendary sovereigns of the third millennium BC: Suiren 燧人 ( Suìrén), Fuxi 伏羲 ( Fú Xī) and Shennong 神農／神农 ( Shénnóng), or 天皇／天皇 ( Tiānhuáng), 地皇／地皇 ( Dìhuáng) and 人皇／人皇 ( Rénhuáng)

Sānzhī

三芝

[三芝]

Sanzhi or Sanchih township in New Taipei City 新北市 ( Xīnběishì), Taiwan

sānguāng

三光

[三光]

the sun, the moon, and the stars

sānjiǎo

三角

[三角]

triangle

Sānjǐng

三井

[三井]

Mitsui (Japanese company)

sāntián

三田

[三田]

3 annual hunting bouts
3 qi points

Sānchóng

三重

[三重]

Sanchong, a district of New Taipei City 新北市 ( Xinbēi Shì), Taiwan
Mie Prefecture in central Japan

Sānzàng

三藏

[三藏]

Tripitaka, the three main types of text that collectively constitute the Buddhist canon of scriptures: sutras, commandments and commentaries

sānbǎn

三板

[三板]

sampan

sānnóng

三农

[三農]

see 三農問題／三农问题 (sānnóngwèntí)

sānwǔ

三五

[三五]

several
three or five

Sānpǔ

三浦

[三浦]

Miura (Japanese surname and place name)

Sān Sū

三苏

[三蘇]

the Three Su's (famous Song dynasty writers Su Xun 蘇洵／苏洵 ( Sū Xún) and his sons Su Shi 蘇軾／苏轼 ( Sū Shì) and Su Zhe 蘇轍／苏辙 ( Sū Zhé))

Sānlù

三鹿

[三鹿]

Sanlu (brand)

sānchóu

三仇

[三仇]

animosity or resentment towards three groups (the bureaucrats, the wealthy, and the police) due to perceived abuse of power

Sānyáng

三洋

[三洋]

Sanyō, Japanese electronics company

Sāntái

三台

[三台]

Santai county in Mianyang 綿陽／绵阳 ( Miányáng), north Sichuan

Zhāng Sān

张三

[張三]

Zhang San, name for an unspecified person, first of a series of three: 張三／张三 ( Zhāng Sān), 李四 ( Lǐ Sì), 王五 ( Wáng Wǔ) Tom, Dick and Harry
(dialect) wolf

sānjiàn

三键

[三鍵]

triple bond (chemistry)
triple link

sānshì

三世

[三世]

the Third (of numbered kings)

sāndài

三代

[三代]

three generations of a family
the three earliest dynasties (Xia, Shang and Zhou)

Sānlíng

三菱

[三菱]

Mitsubishi

sāngēng

三更

[三更]

third of the five night watch periods 23:00-01:00 (old)
midnight
also pr. (sānjīn)

sānxīng

三星

[三星]

three major stars of the Three Stars 參宿／参宿 ( Shēnxiù) Chinese constellation
the belt of Orion
three spirits 福 (fú), 祿／禄 (lù), and 壽／寿 (shòu) associated with the Three Stars 參宿／参宿 ( Shēnxiù) Chinese constellation

sānbāo

三包

[三包]

"three-guarantee service": repair, exchange, refund

xiǎosān

小三

[小三]

mistress
the other woman (coll.)
grade 3 in elementary school

Sān Cáo

三曹

[三曹]

the Three Caos (Cao Cao 曹操 and his sons Cao Pi 曹丕 and Cao Zhi 曹植), who established the Wei or Cao Wei dynasty 曹魏, and were all three noted poets and calligraphers

sānbù

三不

[三不]

the three no's (abbreviated catchphrase)

sānfēn

三分

[三分]

somewhat
to some degree

shísān

十三

[十三]

thirteen
13

Sānmíng

三明

[三明]

Sanming, prefecture-level city in Fujian

Sānyuè

三月

[三月]

March
third month (of the lunar year)

Zhōusān

周三

[週三]

Wednesday

sānchūn

三春

[三春]

the three spring months

Sānguó

三国

[三國]

Three Kingdoms period (220-280) in Chinese history
any of several Three Kingdoms periods in Korean history, esp. from 1st century AD to unification under Silla 新羅／新罗 ( Xinluō) in 658

Sān Kdǎng

三K党

[三K黨]

Ku Klux Klan
KKK

Táng Sānzàng

唐三藏

[唐三藏]

Tripitaka, the central character of the 16th century novel "Journey to the West" 西遊記／西游记 ( Xīyóu Jì), based on the monk Xuanzang 玄奘 ( Xuánzàng) (602-664)

Sānfānshì

三藩市

[三藩市]

San Francisco (California)

Sāndiéjì

三叠纪

[三疊紀]

Triassic (geological period 250-205m years ago)

sāncìyuán

三次元

[三次元]

three-dimensional
the real world (cf. 二次元 (èrcìyuán))

sānxiàngdiǎn

三相点

[三相點]

triple point (thermodynamics)

sānyèchóng

三叶虫

[三葉蟲]

trilobite

dìsānwèi

第三位

[第三位]

third place

dìsānshí

第三十

[第三十]

thirtieth

sānkuànglán

三框栏

[三框欄]

radical 匚 (fāng) (Kangxi radical 22)

Sānchóng Xiàn

三重县

[三重縣]

Mie Prefecture in central Japan

niánsānshí

年三十

[年三十]

last day of the lunar year
Chinese New Year's Eve

Xīngqīsān

星期三

[星期三]

Wednesday

huǐsānguān

毁三观

[毀三觀]

(Internet slang) (of a situation, video clip etc) to make one think "wtf!"

Cháng Sānjiǎo

长三角

[長三角]

Yangtze River Delta (abbr. for 長江三角洲／长江三角洲 ( Chángjiāng Sānjiǎozhōu))

sānhéhuì

三合会

[三合會]

triad, Chinese crime gang
triad society, anti-Manchu secret society in Qing-dynasty China

sānyīndù

三音度

[三音度]

third (musical interval)

sānsèjǐn

三色堇

[三色堇]

pansy

dìsānjì

第三纪

[第三紀]

third period
tertiary (geological era since the extinction of the dinosaurs at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary 65 million years ago)

Qián Sānqiáng

钱三强

[錢三強]

Qian Sanqiang

sānbāxiàn

三八线

[三八線]

38th parallel, forming the DMZ border between North and South Korea

sāncìmì

三次幂

[三次冪]

cube (third power, math.)

sānguīyī

三归依

[三歸依]

the Three Pillars of Faith (Buddha, dharma, sangha), aka 三寶／三宝 (sānbǎo)

Jīnsānjiǎo

金三角

[金三角]

Golden Triangle (Southeast Asia)

sānchājǐ

三叉戟

[三叉戟]

trident

sānjítiào

三级跳

[三級跳]

triple jump (athletics)
hop, skip and jump

sānbùguǎn

三不管

[三不管]

of undetermined status
unregulated

sānjùtǐ

三聚体

[三聚體]

trimer (chemistry)

dàsāndù

大三度

[大三度]

major third (musical interval)

Dōngsān Shěng

东三省

[東三省]

the three provinces of Northeast China, namely: Liaoning Province 遼寧省／辽宁省 ( Liáoníng Shěng), Jilin Province 吉林省 ( Jílín Shěng) and Heilongjiang Province 黑龍江省／黑龙江省 ( Hēilóngjiāng Shěng)

sānjiǔtiān

三九天

[三九天]

the twenty seven days after the Winter Solstice, reputed to be the coldest days of the year

sānqīkāi

三七开

[三七開]

ratio seventy to thirty
thirty percent failure, seventy percent success

Sānjiǎozuò

三角座

[三角座]

Triangulum (constellation)

Sānjiācūn

三家村

[三家村]

(lit.) village of three households
the Three Family Village, an essay column in a Beijing newspaper from 1961-1966, written by Deng Tuo 鄧拓／邓拓 ( Dèng Tuò), Wu Han 吳晗／吴晗 ( Wú Hán) and Liao Mosha 廖沫沙 ( Liào Mòshā), criticized as anti-Party during the Cultural Revolution

Sāndélì

三得利

[三得利]

Suntory, Japanese beverage company

Sānxīng Xiāng

三星乡

[三星鄉]

Sanxing or Sanhsing Township in Yilan County 宜蘭縣／宜兰县 ( Yílán Xiàn), Taiwan

bǐngsānchún

丙三醇

[丙三醇]

glycerine
same as 甘油

sānděngfēn

三等分

[三等分]

to trisect

Wú Sānguì

吴三桂

[吳三桂]

Wu Sangui (1612-1678), Chinese general who let the Manchus into China and helped them establish the Qing Dynasty, later leading a revolt against Qing in an effort to start his own dynasty

Sāndiāojiǎo

三貂角

[三貂角]

Cape San Diego or Santiao, easternmost point of Taiwan Island

lǎosānsè

老三色

[老三色]

the three plain colors used for clothing in the PRC in the 1960s: black, gray and blue

Sānménxiá

三门峡

[三門峽]

Sanmenxia, prefecture-level city in Henan

Sānbājié

三八节

[三八節]

International Women's Day (March 8)

Lǐbàisān

礼拜三

[禮拜三]

Wednesday

sānhéxián

三和弦

[三和弦]

(music) triad; three-note chord

dìsāndì

第三地

[第三地]

territory belonging to a third party (as a neutral location for peace negotiations or as a transit point for indirect travel or trade etc)

sānjiǎoxué

三角学

[三角學]

trigonometry

sānjiǎokù

三角裤

[三角褲]

briefs
panties

sānmíngzhì

三明治

[三明治]

(loanword) sandwich

Zhū Sānjiǎo

珠三角

[珠三角]

Pearl River Delta

sāntìzhuō

三屉桌

[三屜桌]

three-drawer desk (traditional Chinese piece of furniture)

Sānmíngshì

三明市

[三明市]

Sanming, prefecture-level city in Fujian

sānjiǎozhài

三角债

[三角債]

triangular debt

sānbùzhān

三不沾

[三不沾]

air ball (basketball)

sānjiǎolóng

三角龙

[三角龍]

triceratops

Sānxīngduī

三星堆

[三星堆]

archaeological site of Sanxingdui outside Chengdu (Sichuan), exhibiting remarkable bronze artifacts from the 11-12th centuries BC

Sānsuìxiàn

三穗县

[三穗縣]

Sansui county in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture 黔東南州／黔东南州 ( Qiándōngnánzhōu), Guizhou

sānjiǎodèng

三角凳

[三角凳]

three-legged stool

sānyuánzé

三原则

[三原則]

the Three Principles (in many contexts)

sānlúnchē

三轮车

[三輪車]

pedicab
tricycle

shísāndiǎn

十三点

[十三點]

half-witted
nitwit

Jīn Yǒngsān

金泳三

[金泳三]

Kim Young-sam (1927-2015), South Korean politician, president 1993-1998

Sānyàshì

三亚市

[三亞市]

Sanya, prefecture-level city, Hainan

sānwèixiàn

三味线

[三味線]

shamisen, three-stringed Japanese musical instrument

sānwēnnuǎn

三温暖

[三溫暖]

sauna (loanword) (Tw)

sānzhīshǒu

三只手

[三隻手]

pickpocket

sānduànlùn

三段论

[三段論]

syllogism (deduction in logic)

xiàsānlàn

下三滥

[下三濫]

riffraff
scum
lowlife
despicable
inferior

shísānrì

十三日

[十三日]

thirteenth day of a month

dìsānfāng

第三方

[第三方]

third party

sāntàntáng

三碳糖

[三碳糖]

triose (CH2O)3, monosaccharide with three carbon atoms, such as glyceraldehyde 甘油醛 (gānyóuquán)

sānyíjiào

三夷教

[三夷教]

the three foreign religions (Nestorianism, Manichaeism and Zoroastrianism)

sānbùqǔ

三部曲

[三部曲]

trilogy

Sānménxiàn

三门县

[三門縣]

Sanmen county in Taizhou 台州 ( Tāizhōu), Zhejiang

Sānhéshì

三河市

[三河市]

Sanhe, county-level city in Langfang 廊坊 ( Lángfáng), Hebei

Sāndiéjì

三迭纪

[三迭紀]

Triassic (geological period 250-205m years ago)
also written 三疊紀／三叠纪

sān'āyí

三阿姨

[三阿姨]

auntie, third eldest of sisters in mother's family

sānjiǎofǎ

三角法

[三角法]

trigonometry (math.)

sānjiǎojī

三角肌

[三角肌]

deltoid muscle (over the shoulder)

sānchóngzòu

三重奏

[三重奏]

trio (musical ensemble)

sānjiǎojià

三脚架

[三腳架]

tripod
derrick crane

sānwénzhì

三文治

[三文治]

sandwich (loanword)

sānjiǎomāo

三脚猫

[三腳貓]

sb with only rudimentary skills (in a particular area)

sānfútiān

三伏天

[三伏天]

see 三伏 (sānfú)

sānzhǐ'ōu

三趾鸥

[三趾鷗]

(bird species of China) black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)

Sāntáixiàn

三台县

[三台縣]

Santai county in Mianyang 綿陽／绵阳 ( Miányáng), north Sichuan

sānjíguǎn

三极管

[三極管]

triode (vacuum tube or transistor)

sānmáomāo

三毛猫

[三毛貓]

tortoiseshell cat
calico cat

sānzhùmén

三柱门

[三柱門]

(sports) (cricket) wicket (set of stumps and bails)

xiàsānlàn

下三烂

[下三爛]

variant of 下三濫／下三滥 (xiàsānlàn)

sānbiānxíng

三边形

[三邊形]

triangle

sānzúwū

三足乌

[三足烏]

three-legged Golden Crow that lives in the sun (in northeast Asian and Chinese mythology)
Korean: samjog'o

Sānjiāngyuán

三江源

[三江源]

Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve, high plateau region of Qinghai containing the headwaters of Changjiang or Yangtze, Huanghe or Yellow River and Lancang or Mekong River

sānliánguǎn

三联管

[三聯管]

triplet

sānléngcǎo

三棱草

[三稜草]

sedge herb (Cyperus rotundus)

Sānlǐhé

三里河

[三里河]

Sanlihe (Beijing street name)

dìsānshēng

第三声

[第三聲]

third tone in Mandarin
falling-rising tone

sānbùxiǔ

三不朽

[三不朽]

the three imperishables, three ways to distinguish oneself that aren't forgotten by history: through one's virtue 立德 (lìdé), one's service 立功 (lìgōng) and one's writings 立言 (lìyán) (from the Zuo Zhuan 左傳／左传 ( Zuǒ Zhuàn))

Sānyuán Qū

三元区

[三元區]

Sanyuan, a district of Sanming City 三明市 ( Sānming Shì), Fujian

sānhéyī

三合一

[三合一]

three in one
triple

sānliánshèng

三连胜

[三連勝]

hat-trick (sports)

Jiànsānjiāng

建三江

[建三江]

Jiansanjiang, large-scale agricultural development in Sanjiang river plain in Heilongjiang

sānbāndǎo

三班倒

[三班倒]

three-shift system (work rostering)

Sānshuǐ Qū

三水区

[三水區]

Sanshui, a district of Foshan 佛山市 ( Foshán Shì), Guangdong

Shísānjīng

十三经

[十三經]

the Thirteen Confucian Classics, namely: Book of Songs 詩經／诗经 ( Shījīng), Book of History 尚書／尚书 ( Shàngshū), Rites of Zhou 周禮／周礼 ( Zhōulǐ), Rites and Ceremonies 儀禮／仪礼 ( Yílǐ), Classic of Rites 禮記／礼记 ( Lǐjì), Book of Changes 易經／易经 ( Yìjīng), Mr Zuo's Annals 左傳／左传 ( Zuǒ Zhuàn), Mr Gongyang's Annals 公羊傳／公羊传 ( Gōngyáng Zhuàn), Mr Guliang's Annals 穀梁傳／谷梁传 ( Gǔliáng Zhuàn), The Analects 論語／论语 ( Lúnyǔ), Erya 爾雅／尔雅 ( Eryǎ), Classic of Filial Piety 孝經／孝经 ( Xiàojīng), Mencius 孟子 ( Mèngzǐ)

shísānzhāng

十三张

[十三張]

Chinese poker

sānjiébiān

三节鞭

[三節鞭]

three-section staff (old-style weapon)

Sānchàkǒu

三岔口

[三岔口]

At the Crossroads, famous opera, based on a story from 水滸傳／水浒传 ( Shuǐhǔ Zhuàn)

sānjiǎozhōu

三角洲

[三角洲]

delta (geography)

sāncìfāng

三次方

[三次方]

cube (third power, math.)

Máo Dèng Sān

毛邓三

[毛鄧三]

Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory & the Three Represents (abbr. for 毛澤東思想／毛泽东思想 ( Máo Zédōng Sīxiǎng) + 鄧小平理論／邓小平理论 ( Dèng Xiǎopíng Lǐlùn) + 三個代表／三个代表 ( Sāngè Dàibiǎo))

sāntóujī

三头肌

[三頭肌]

triceps muscle
triceps brachii

piānsānlún

偏三轮

[偏三輪]

old-style cycle with lateral third wheel and passenger seat

Sāndìmén

三地门

[三地門]

Santimen township in Pingtung County 屏東縣／屏东县 ( Píngdōng Xiàn), Taiwan

Sānyuè Jiē

三月街

[三月街]

Third Month Fair, traditional festival of the Bai Nationality 白族 ( Báizú)

sānjípiàn

三级片

[三級片]

third category movie (containing sexual or violent content)

sānhéxīng

三合星

[三合星]

(astronomy) triple star system

Sānlùnzōng

三论宗

[三論宗]

Three Treatise School (Buddhism)

sānjiǎoxíng

三角形

[三角形]

triangle

sānjiǎozhuī

三角锥

[三角錐]

triangular pyramid (math.)

sānyècǎo

三叶草

[三葉草]

clover
trefoil

sānyuèfèn

三月份

[三月份]

March

sānsèmāo

三色猫

[三色貓]

calico cat

sānhétǔ

三合土

[三合土]

mortar
concrete
cement

Sānmínqū

三民区

[三民區]

Sanmin district of Kaohsiung city 高雄市 ( Gāoxióngshì), south Taiwan

sān'àotāng

三拗汤

[三拗湯]

san'ao decoction (TCM)

sānrénxíng

三人行

[三人行]

(slang) threesome

Sānwānxiāng

三湾乡

[三灣鄉]

Sanwan township in Miaoli county 苗栗縣／苗栗县 ( Miáolìxiàn), northwest Taiwan

sānyuánchún

三元醇

[三元醇]

propyl alcohol C3H7OH

Sānlǐtún

三里屯

[三里屯]

Sanlitun (Beijing street name)

Sāndūxiàn

三都县

[三都縣]

Sandu Shuizu autonomous county in Qiannan Buyei and Miao autonomous prefecture 黔南州 ( Qiánnánzhōu), Guizhou

sānyuányīn

三元音

[三元音]

triphthong (such as putonghua uei etc)

Sānhéxiàn

三河县

[三河縣]

Sanhe county in Beijing

Mùwèi Sān

木卫三

[木衛三]

Ganymede (moon of Jupiter), aka Jupiter III

sānjiǎobǎn

三角板

[三角板]

set square
triangle (for drawing right angles)

sānxiàngshì

三项式

[三項式]

trinomial (math.)

sānjiǎotiě

三角铁

[三角鐵]

triangle (musical instrument)
angle iron

Sānyìxiāng

三义乡

[三義鄉]

Sanyi township in Miaoli county 苗栗縣／苗栗县 ( Miáolìxiàn), northwest Taiwan

sāndiǎnshuǐ

三点水

[三點水]

name of "water" radical 氵 (shuǐ) in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 85)

sānshǒubìng

三手病

[三手病]

repetitive strain injury (resulting from frequent use of one's thumb, wrist etc)

sānléngjìng

三棱镜

[三稜鏡]

(triangular) prism

dìsānxiān

地三鲜

[地三鮮]

dish consisting of stir-fried potato, eggplant and green pepper

Sānguózhì

三国志

[三國志]

History of the Three Kingdoms, fourth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史 ( Ershísì Shǐ), composed by Chen Shou 陳壽／陈寿 ( Chén Shòu) in 289 during Jin Dynasty 晉朝／晋朝 ( Jìncháo), 65 scrolls

sānjiǎojīn

三角巾

[三角巾]

sling (for a wounded arm)

Sānzì Jīng

三字经

[三字經]

Three Character Classic, 13th century reading primer consisting of Confucian tenets in lines of 3 characters

báisānxī

白三烯

[白三烯]

leukotriene (biochemistry)

sānqīzǐ

三七仔

[三七仔]

(slang) pimp

sānbāotāi

三胞胎

[三胞胎]

triplets

sānwényú

三文鱼

[三文魚]

salmon (loanword)

lǎosānpiān

老三篇

[老三篇]

Lao San Pian, three short essays written by Mao Zedong before the PRC was established

sānfǎsī

三法司

[三法司]

the three judicial chief ministries (in imperial China)

císānchún

雌三醇

[雌三醇]

estriol

Sānyuán Xiàn

三原县

[三原縣]

Sanyuan County in Xianyang 咸陽／咸阳 ( Xiányáng), Shaanxi

Mǎ Sānlì

马三立

[馬三立]

Ma Sanli (1914-2003), Chinese comedian

Sānshānqū

三山区

[三山區]

Sanshan district of Wuhu city 蕪湖市／芜湖市 ( Wúhúshì), Anhui

Sānzhīxiāng

三芝乡

[三芝鄉]

Sanzhi or Sanchih township in New Taipei City 新北市 ( Xīnběishì), Taiwan

sānbǎoniǎo

三宝鸟

[三寶鳥]

(bird species of China) oriental dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis)

qiánsānjiǎ

前三甲

[前三甲]

top three

dìsānzhě

第三者

[第三者]

sb who is romantically involved with sb already in a committed relationship
the other woman
the other man
third person
third party (in dispute)
disinterested party
number three in a list

Mǎsānjiā

马三家

[馬三家]

Masanjia town in Yuhong District 于洪區／于洪区 ( Yúhóng Qū) in Liaoning, known for its re-education through labor camp

sānzìjīng

三字经

[三字經]

(slang) swearword
four-letter word

sānhéyuàn

三合院

[三合院]

residence consisting of structures surrounding a courtyard on three sides

sānbùzhī

三不知

[三不知]

to know nothing about the beginning, the middle or the end
to know nothing at all

sānfēnshú

三分熟

[三分熟]

medium rare (of steak)

Sānshuǐxiàn

三水县

[三水縣]

Sanshui county in Guangdong

sānfēntóu

三分头

[三分頭]

regular men's haircut
short back and sides

sānmiǎojiāo

三秒胶

[三秒膠]

superglue

xiǎosāndù

小三度

[小三度]

minor third (musical interval)

Sānxiázhèn

三峡镇

[三峽鎮]

Sanxia or Sanhsia town in New Taipei City 新北市 ( Xīnběishì), Taiwan

jiǎotùsānkū

狡兔三窟

[狡兔三窟]

lit. a crafty rabbit has three burrows
a sly individual has more than one plan to fall back on (idiom)

Sānyè Xīngyún

三叶星云

[三葉星雲]

Trifid Nebula, M20

sānchāshénjīng

三叉神经

[三叉神經]

trigeminal nerve

sānsī'érxíng

三思而行

[三思而行]

think three times then go (idiom); don't act before you've thought it through carefully

sāncháliùfàn

三茶六饭

[三茶六飯]

lit. to offer three kinds of tea and six different dishes
to be extremely considerate towards guests (idiom)

Sāndìménxiāng

三地门乡

[三地門鄉]

Santimen township in Pingtung County 屏東縣／屏东县 ( Píngdōng Xiàn), Taiwan

sānlühuàtiě

三氯化铁

[三氯化鐵]

ferric chloride FeCl3

Sānzì Jiàohuì

三自教会

[三自教會]

Three-Self Patriotic Movement, PRC government-sanctioned Protestant church from 1949

gésānchàwǔ

隔三岔五

[隔三岔五]

see 隔三差五／隔三差五 (gésānchàwǔ)

sānjùqíng'àn

三聚氰胺

[三聚氰胺]

melamine C3H6N6

sānhàomùgān

三号木杆

[三號木桿]

spoon (golf)

sāndàitóngtáng

三代同堂

[三代同堂]

three generations under one roof

Sānbā Dàgài

三八大盖

[三八大蓋]

(coll.) Arisaka Type 38 rifle (Japanese army rifle used 1905-1945)

sānhúnqīpò

三魂七魄

[三魂七魄]

three immortal souls and seven mortal forms in Daoism, contrasting the spiritual and carnal side of man

zhōusānjìngyī

周三径一

[周三徑一]

circumference of a circle is proverbially three times its radius

Sān Zhōng Quánhuì

三中全会

[三中全會]

third plenum of a national congress of the Chinese Communist Party

Sāngè Dàibiǎo

三个代表

[三個代表]

the Three Represents, a set of three guiding principles for the CCP introduced by Jiang Zemin 江澤民／江泽民 ( Jiāng Zémín) in 2000 and enshrined in the Constitution in 2004

sānfānzhīluàn

三藩之乱

[三藩之亂]

Three feudatories rebellion against Qing 1673-1681 during the reign of Kangxi

xiǎosānhéxián

小三和弦

[小三和弦]

minor triad la-do-mi

Sānmínzhǔyì

三民主义

[三民主義]

Dr Sun Yat-sen's 孫中山／孙中山 Three Principles of the People (late 1890s)

kuángsānzhàsì

狂三诈四

[狂三詐四]

to deceive and swindle across the board (idiom)

chuánsānguòsì

传三过四

[傳三過四]

to spread rumors
to gossip

sānwǎliǎngshè

三瓦两舍

[三瓦兩舍]

places of pleasure (like brothels, tea houses etc)

sānjiǎokùchǎ

三角裤衩

[三角褲衩]

briefs
panties

Sānguó Yǎnyì

三国演义

[三國演義]

Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong 羅貫中／罗贯中 ( Luó Guànzhōng), one of the Four Classic Novels of Chinese literature, a fictional account of the Three Kingdoms at the break-up of the Han around 200 AD, portraying Liu Bei's 劉備／刘备 ( Liú Bèi) Shu Han 蜀漢／蜀汉 ( Shǔ Hàn) as heroes and Cao Cao's 曹操 ( Cáo Cāo) Wei 魏 ( Wèi) as villains

sānmǎtóngcáo

三马同槽

[三馬同槽]

three horses at the same trough (idiom, alluding to Sima Yi 司馬懿／司马懿 ( Sīmǎ Yì) and his two sons); conspirators under the same roof

sānwúqǐyè

三无企业

[三無企業]

enterprise with no premises, capital or regular staff

rùmùsānfēn

入木三分

[入木三分]

written in a forceful hand
penetrating
profound

gānyóusānzhī

甘油三脂

[甘油三脂]

triglyceride

sāndiǎnquánlòu

三点全露

[三點全露]

(slang) naked
nude

dàniánsānshí

大年三十

[大年三十]

last day of the lunar year
Chinese New Year's Eve

sāncóngsìdé

三从四德

[三從四德]

Confucian moral injunctions for women, namely: obey in turn three men father, husband and son, plus the four virtues of morality 德 (dé), physical charm 容, propriety in speech 言 and efficiency in needlework 功

tiāosānjiǎnsì

挑三拣四

[挑三揀四]

to be picky
to be choosy

Sānlián Shūdiàn

三联书店

[三聯書店]

Joint Publishing, bookstore chain and publisher, founded in Hong Kong in 1948

Sānpǔ Méiyuán

三浦梅园

[三浦梅園]

MIURA Baien (1723-1789), Japanese neo-Confucian philosopher and pioneer economist, author of The Origin of value 價原／价原 ( Jiàyuán)

sānyánliǎngyǔ

三言两语

[三言兩語]

in a few words (idiom); expressed succinctly

chuíxiánsānchǐ

垂涎三尺

[垂涎三尺]

to drool (over) (idiom)
to yearn for
to covet
to crave

sānnóngwèntí

三农问题

[三農問題]

the three rural issues: agriculture, rural areas and peasants

sānxiàliǎngxià

三下两下

[三下兩下]

quickly and effortlessly (idiom)

sāngāngwǔcháng

三纲五常

[三綱五常]

three principles and five virtues (idiom)
the three rules (ruler guides subject, father guides son and husband guides wife) and five constant virtues of Confucianism (benevolence 仁, righteousness 義／义, propriety 禮／礼, wisdom 智 and fidelity 信)

Sānwèi Yītǐ

三位一体

[三位一體]

Holy Trinity
trinity

sānxiàngquánnéng

三项全能

[三項全能]

triathlon

diānsāndǎosì

颠三倒四

[顛三倒四]

confused
disorderly
incoherent

wǔdàsāncū

五大三粗

[五大三粗]

burly
strapping
big and strong

sānwèibóshì

三位博士

[三位博士]

the Magi
the Three Wise Kings from the East in the biblical nativity story

sānqīnliùgù

三亲六故

[三親六故]

old friends and relatives

sānguìjiǔkòu

三跪九叩

[三跪九叩]

to kneel three times and kowtow nine times (formal etiquette on meeting the emperor)

sānwúrényuán

三无人员

[三無人員]

person without identification papers, a normal residence permit or a source of income

gōngsāntóujī

肱三头肌

[肱三頭肌]

triceps brachii (back of the upper arm)

sānjiānqíkǒu

三缄其口

[三緘其口]

(idiom) reluctant to speak about it
tight-lipped

sānyánliǎngjù

三言两句

[三言兩句]

in a few words (idiom); expressed succinctly

sānjiǎokǒnglóng

三角恐龙

[三角恐龍]

triceratops (dinosaur)

sānzhǐcuìniǎo

三趾翠鸟

[三趾翠鳥]

(bird species of China) oriental dwarf kingfisher (Ceyx erithacus)

Nánsānjiǎozuò

南三角座

[南三角座]

Triangulum Australe (constellation)

Jiǔsān Xuéshè

九三学社

[九三學社]

Jiusan Society, one of the eight political parties of the CCP

sānshíliùjì

三十六计

[三十六計]

The Thirty-Six Stratagems, a Chinese essay used to illustrate a series of stratagems used in politics, war, and in civil interaction
all the possible schemes and stratagems

sānjiǎoliǎngbù

三脚两步

[三腳兩步]

hurriedly
just a few steps away

rényǒusānjí

人有三急

[人有三急]

(jocular) to need to answer the call of nature

zōngsānzhǐchún

棕三趾鹑

[棕三趾鶉]

(bird species of China) barred buttonquail (Turnix suscitator)

Sānfānpànluàn

三藩叛乱

[三藩叛亂]

rebellion against the Qing of 1670s, pacified by Kangxi

gōusāndāsì

勾三搭四

[勾三搭四]

to make hanky-panky
to seduce women

Chūnqiū Sān Zhuàn

春秋三传

[春秋三傳]

Three Commentaries on the Spring and Autumn Annals 春秋 ( Chūnqiū), including Mr Gongyang's annals 公羊傳／公羊传 ( Gōngyáng Zhuàn), Mr Guliang's annals 穀梁傳／谷梁传 ( Gǔliáng Zhuàn) and Mr Zuo's annals or Zuo Zhuan 左傳／左传 ( Zuǒ Zhuàn)

jǔyīfǎnsān

举一反三

[舉一反三]

to raise one and infer three
to deduce many things from one case (idiom)

sānlühuàlín

三氯化磷

[三氯化磷]

phosphorous trichloride

sānzújīnwū

三足金乌

[三足金烏]

three-legged Golden Crow that lives in the sun (in northeast Asian and Chinese mythology)
Korean: samjog'o

Sānjiāng Bìngliú

三江并流

[三江並流]

Three Parallel Rivers National Park, in mountainous northwest Yunnan World Heritage protected area: the three rivers are Nujiang 怒江 ( Nùjiāng) or Salween, Jinsha 金沙江 ( Jīnshājiāng) or upper reaches of Changjiang and Lancang 瀾滄江／澜沧江 ( Láncāng Jiāng) or Mekong

sāngùmáolú

三顾茅庐

[三顧茅廬]

lit. to make three visits to the thatched cottage (idiom) (allusion to an episode in Romance of the Three Kingdoms 三國演義／三国演义 ( Sānguó Yǎnyì) in which Liu Bei 劉備／刘备 ( Liú Bèi) recruits Zhuge Liang 諸葛亮／诸葛亮 ( Zhūgě Liàng) to his cause by visiting him three times)
fig. to make earnest and repeated requests of sb

bāsānlǎnsì

巴三览四

[巴三覽四]

to talk about this and that (idiom); to ramble incoherently

Yīnglún Sāndǎo

英伦三岛

[英倫三島]

British Isles

Cháng Jiāng Sānxiá

长江三峡

[長江三峽]

Three Gorges or Yangtze Gorges, namely: Qutang Gorge 瞿塘峽／瞿塘峡 ( Qútáng Xiá), Wuxia Gorge 巫峽／巫峡 ( Wū Xiá) and Xiling Gorge 西陵峽／西陵峡 ( Xīlíng Xiá)

sānlüjiǎwán

三氯甲烷

[三氯甲烷]

chloroform (trichloromethane CHCl3)

sānchángliǎngduǎn

三长两短

[三長兩短]

unexpected misfortune
unexpected accident
sudden death

sāntǐwèntí

三体问题

[三體問題]

three-body problem (mechanics)

sānxīn'èryì

三心二意

[三心二意]

in two minds about sth (idiom)
half-hearted
shilly-shallying

jǐcìsānfān

几次三番

[幾次三番]

lit. twice then three times (idiom); fig. repeatedly
over and over again

bùsānbùsì

不三不四

[不三不四]

(idiom) dubious; shady; neither one thing nor the other; neither fish nor fowl; nondescript

sānshí'érlì

三十而立

[三十而立]

thirty years old and therefore independent (idiom, from Confucius)

liǎng'ànsāndì

两岸三地

[兩岸三地]

China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau (media term used esp. since 1997)

dìsānjìdù

第三季度

[第三季度]

third quarter (of financial year)

huòbǐsānjiā

货比三家

[貨比三家]

to shop around (idiom)

sānwéikōngjiān

三维空间

[三維空間]

three-dimensional space
3D

tiěrénsānxiàng

铁人三项

[鐵人三項]

triathlon

sānzhǐyāquè

三趾鸦雀

[三趾鴉雀]

(bird species of China) three-toed parrotbill (Cholornis paradoxa)

tiáosānwōsì

调三窝四

[調三窩四]

to sow the seeds of discord everywhere (idiom)

Sānge Shìjiè

三个世界

[三個世界]

the Three Worlds (as proposed by Mao Zedong), i.e. the superpowers (USA and USSR), other wealthy countries (UK, France, Japan etc), and the developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America

Dìsān Dìguó

第三帝国

[第三帝國]

Third Reich, Nazi regime (1933-1945)

Sānxīng Jítuán

三星集团

[三星集團]

Samsung Group

Liùtāo Sānlüè

六韬三略

[六韜三略]

"Six Secret Strategic Teachings" 六韜／六韬 ( Liùtāo) and "Three Strategies of Huang Shigong" 三略 ( Sānlüè), two of the Seven Military Classics of ancient China 武經七書／武经七书 ( Wǔjīng Qīshū), attributed to Jiang Ziya 姜子牙 ( Jiāng Zǐyá)

dìsānchǎnyè

第三产业

[第三產業]

tertiary sector of industry

ràoliángsānrì

绕梁三日

[繞梁三日]

reverberates around the rafters for three days (idiom); fig. sonorous and resounding (esp. of singing voice)

kāisāncìfāng

开三次方

[開三次方]

(math.) to extract a cube root

sānlüzhètáng

三氯蔗糖

[三氯蔗糖]

sucralose

sānfēnzhīyī

三分之一

[三分之一]

one third

sānjiàojiǔliú

三教九流

[三教九流]

the Three Religions (Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism) and Nine Schools (Confucians, Daoists, Yin-Yang, Legalists, Logicians, Mohists, Political Strategists, Eclectics, Agriculturists)
fig. people from all trades (often derog.)

sānpéngsìyǒu

三朋四友

[三朋四友]

friends; cronies

liánsānbìngsì

连三并四

[連三併四]

one after the other
in succession (idiom)

Sānjiāngpíngyuán

三江平原

[三江平原]

Sanjiang or Three rivers plain in Heilongjiang, vast wetland watered by Heilongjiang 黑龍江／黑龙江 ( Hēilóngjiāng) or Amur, Songhua 松花江 ( Sōnghuājiāng), Ussuri 烏蘇里江／乌苏里江 ( Wūsūlǐjiāng)

Míngshísānlíng

明十三陵

[明十三陵]

the Ming tombs (mausoleum park of the Ming emperors in Changping district of Beijing)

línsānzhǐchún

林三趾鹑

[林三趾鶉]

(bird species of China) common buttonquail (Turnix sylvaticus)

sānzhēnjiǔliè

三贞九烈

[三貞九烈]

(of a widow) faithful to the death to her husband's memory

sānjíshìguān

三级士官

[三級士官]

staff sergeant

Sānménxiáshì

三门峡市

[三門峽市]

Sanmenxia, prefecture-level city in Henan

sānwúchǎnpǐn

三无产品

[三無產品]

product lacking one or more of three requirements such as production license, inspection certificate, and manufacturer's name and location

sāngōngjīngfèi

三公经费

[三公經費]

"three public expenditures" of the PRC government, i.e. air travel, food and entertainment, and public vehicles

sānlüqíng'àn

三氯氰胺

[三氯氰胺]

melamine C3H6N6

sānshēngyǒuxìng

三生有幸

[三生有幸]

the blessing of three lifetimes (idiom)
(courteous language) it's my good fortune...

sānsānliǎngliǎng

三三两两

[三三兩兩]

in twos and threes

zàisānzàisì

再三再四

[再三再四]

repeatedly
over and over again

sānfānwǔcì

三番五次

[三番五次]

over and over again (idiom)

liǎngmiànsāndāo

两面三刀

[兩面三刀]

two-faced, three knives (idiom); double-cross
double dealing and back stabbing

sānquándǐnglì

三权鼎立

[三權鼎立]

separation of powers

sānděngfēnjiǎo

三等分角

[三等分角]

(math.) to trisect an angle

Sānbǎotàijiàn

三宝太监

[三寶太監]

Sanbao Eunuch, official title of Zheng He 鄭和／郑和 ( Zhèng Hé)
also written 三保太監／三保太监

sānjūnyòngmìng

三军用命

[三軍用命]

(of a team) to throw oneself into the battle

sānfúhuàpéng

三氟化硼

[三氟化硼]

boron trifluoride

sānbùwǔshí

三不五时

[三不五時]

(Tw) from time to time
frequently

sānjiǎoguānxì

三角关系

[三角關係]

triangular relationship; (esp.) a love triangle

pīnmìngsānláng

拼命三郎

[拼命三郎]

brave man, willing to risk his life

zhāosānmùsì

朝三暮四

[朝三暮四]

lit. say three in the morning but four in the evening (idiom); to change sth that is already settled upon
indecisive
to blow hot and cold

yīrìsānqiū

一日三秋

[一日三秋]

a single day apart seems like three seasons (idiom)

fànzhūsānjiǎo

泛珠三角

[泛珠三角]

Pan-Pearl River delta
The nine provinces of Southern China around Guangzhou and the Pearl River delta
South China

diūsānlàsì

丢三落四

[丟三落四]

forgetful
empty-headed

Sānzàngfǎshī

三藏法师

[三藏法師]

monk who has mastered the scriptures; (esp.) Xuanzang 玄奘 ( Xuánzàng) (602-664)

Sānxiáwǔyì

三侠五义

[三俠五義]

Sanxia wuyi (lit. Three knight-errants and five righteous one), novel edited from stories of late Qing dynasty pinghua 評話／评话 master storyteller Shi Yukun 石玉昆

dàxiǎosāndù

大小三度

[大小三度]

major and minor third (musical interval)

wǎngkāisānmiàn

网开三面

[網開三面]

to leave the net open on three sides (idiom); let the caged bird fly
to give one's opponent a way out
lenient treatment

sānfānliǎngcì

三番两次

[三番兩次]

repeatedly (idiom)

sānguāndàdì

三官大帝

[三官大帝]

the three gods in charge of heaven, earth and water (Daoism)

shuōsāndàosì

说三道四

[說三道四]

to make thoughtless remarks (idiom)
to criticize
gossip

yībǎnsānyǎn

一板三眼

[一板三眼]

lit. one strong beat and three weak beats in a measure of music (four beats in the bar) (idiom); fig. scrupulous attention to detail

sānquánfēnlì

三权分立

[三權分立]

separation of powers

sānzhǐbīnyù

三趾滨鹬

[三趾濱鷸]

(bird species of China) sanderling (Calidris alba)

Sānguóshǐjì

三国史记

[三國史記]

History of Three Kingdoms (Korean: Samguk Sagi), the oldest extant Korean history, compiled under Kim Busik 金富軾／金富轼 ( Jīn Fùshì) in 1145. The three kingdoms are Goguryeo 高句麗／高句丽 ( Gāogōulí), Baekje 百濟／百济 ( Bǎijì), Silla 新羅／新罗 ( Xīnluó).

yuēfǎsānzhāng

约法三章

[約法三章]

to agree on three laws (idiom)
three-point covenant
(fig.) preliminary agreement
basic rules

Dōnghuá Sānyuàn

东华三院

[東華三院]

Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (Hong Kong)

sānzīqǐyè

三资企业

[三資企業]

foreign, private and joint ventures

sānjiǎoliàn'ài

三角恋爱

[三角戀愛]

love triangle

dīsānxiàsì

低三下四

[低三下四]

servile

sānjiàmǎchē

三驾马车

[三駕馬車]

troika

sānlúnchēfū

三轮车夫

[三輪車夫]

pedicab driver

sānfǎnyùndòng

三反运动

[三反運動]

"Three Anti" campaign (anti-corruption, anti-waste, anti-bureaucracy), early PRC purge of 1951-52

sānhuángwǔdì

三皇五帝

[三皇五帝]

three sovereigns 三皇 (sānhuáng) and five emperors 五帝 (wǔdì) of myth and legend
the earliest system of Chinese historiography

sāncìqūxiàn

三次曲线

[三次曲線]

cubic curve (geometry)

sānlüyǎnglín

三氯氧磷

[三氯氧磷]

phosphorous oxychloride

sāngōngxiāofèi

三公消费

[三公消費]

see 三公經費／三公经费 (sāngōngjīngfèi)

sānyuányùnsuàn

三元运算

[三元運算]

ternary operator (computing)

sānhuángpàochuí

三皇炮捶

[三皇炮捶]

Pao Chui (Chinese martial art)

dàsānhéxián

大三和弦

[大三和弦]

major triad do-mi-so

sānjiǎofùdài

三角腹带

[三角腹帶]

athletic supporter

Sānxiá Shuǐkù

三峡水库

[三峽水庫]

Three Gorges Reservoir on the Changjiang or Yangtze

sānrénchénghǔ

三人成虎

[三人成虎]

three men talking makes a tiger (idiom); repeated rumor becomes a fact

sānsuǒjǐnshé

三索锦蛇

[三索錦蛇]

copperhead race (Elaphe radiata), kind of snake

Zhāng Sān Lǐ Sì

张三李四

[張三李四]

(lit.) Zhang Three and Li Four; (fig.) any Tom, Dick or Harry

Sānxiá Dàbà

三峡大坝

[三峽大壩]

Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River

yīchàngsāntàn

一唱三叹

[一唱三嘆]

see 一倡三歎／一倡三叹 (yīchàngsāntàn)

tuīsānzǔsì

推三阻四

[推三阻四]

to use all sorts of excuses

shìbùguòsān

事不过三

[事不過三]

(idiom) a thing should not be attempted more than three times; don't repeat the same mistake again and again
(idiom) bad things don't happen more than three times

gésānchàwǔ

隔三差五

[隔三差五]

every few days (idiom)

sāntóuliùbì

三头六臂

[三頭六臂]

lit. to have three heads and six arms (idiom)
fig. to possess remarkable abilities
a being of formidable powers

sānhàodiànchí

三号电池

[三號電池]

C size battery (PRC) (Taiwan equivalent: 二號電池／二号电池 (èrhàodiànchí))
AA battery (Tw) (PRC equivalent: 五號電池／五号电池 (wǔhàodiànchí))

sānpéixiǎojie

三陪小姐

[三陪小姐]

female escort
bar girl

sānshí'èrxiàng

三十二相

[三十二相]

the thirty-two physical characteristics of Buddha

jiē'èrliánsān

接二连三

[接二連三]

one after another (idiom)
in quick succession

Yuēhànsānshū

约翰三书

[約翰三書]

Third epistle of St John

Mòsānbǐkè

莫三比克

[莫三比克]

Mozambique (Tw)

sānyòngdiànbiǎo

三用电表

[三用電表]

multimeter

Sānguāng Zhèngcè

三光政策

[三光政策]

Three Alls Policy (kill all, burn all, loot all), Japanese policy in China during WWII

dìsānshìjiè

第三世界

[第三世界]

Third World

sānjiǎozhùtǐ

三角柱体

[三角柱體]

triangular prism (math.)

zàishuāisānjié

再衰三竭

[再衰三竭]

weakening and close to exhaustion (idiom); in terminal decline
on one's last legs

zēngsānhéxián

增三和弦

[增三和弦]

augmented triad (musical chord)

tuìbì-sānshè

退避三舍

[退避三舍]

lit. to retreat ninety li (idiom)
fig. to shun; to assiduously avoid

sāngūliùpó

三姑六婆

[三姑六婆]

women with disreputable or illegal professions (idiom)

sānjítiàoyuǎn

三级跳远

[三級跳遠]

triple jump (athletics)
hop, skip and jump

sāntiānliǎngtóu

三天两头

[三天兩頭]

lit. twice every three days (idiom); practically every day
frequently

sānlìngwǔshēn

三令五申

[三令五申]

to order again and again (idiom)

yībōsānzhé

一波三折

[一波三折]

calligraphic flourish with many twists
fig. many twists and turns

héngsānshùsì

横三竖四

[橫三豎四]

in disorder
in a tremendous mess

dìsānrénchēng

第三人称

[第三人稱]

third person (grammar)

sānzhènchūjú

三振出局

[三振出局]

see 三振 (sānzhèn)

dìsānyǎnjiǎn

第三眼睑

[第三眼瞼]

nictitating membrane (zoology)

bànyèsāngēng

半夜三更

[半夜三更]

in the depth of night
late at night

sāncuīsìqǐng

三催四请

[三催四請]

to coax and plead

huǒmàosānzhàng

火冒三丈

[火冒三丈]

to get really angry

sāngēngbànyè

三更半夜

[三更半夜]

in the depth of the night; very late at night

sāncìfāngchéng

三次方程

[三次方程]

cubic equation (math.)

sānxúnjiǔshí

三旬九食

[三旬九食]

lit. to have only nine meals in thirty days (idiom)
fig. (of a family) on the brink of starvation
in dire straits

gānyóusānzhǐ

甘油三酯

[甘油三酯]

triglyceride

yīchàngsāntàn

一倡三叹

[一倡三歎]

(of literature, music) deeply moving (idiom)

wéibiānsānjué

韦编三绝

[韋編三絕]

lit. the leather binding (of the bamboo scroll) has broken three times
fig. to study diligently

sānjiǎohánshù

三角函数

[三角函數]

trigonometric function

sānwǔchéngqún

三五成群

[三五成群]

in groups of three or four (idiom)

tiǎosānwōsì

挑三窝四

[挑三窩四]

to sow discord everywhere

yīrìsāncān

一日三餐

[一日三餐]

to have three meals a day

Sānlù Jítuán

三鹿集团

[三鹿集團]

Sanlu Group, Chinese state-owned dairy products company involved in the 2008 melamine poisoning scandal

Anbèi Jìnsān

安倍晋三

[安倍晉三]

Abe Shinzo (1954-2022), Japanese LDP politician, prime minister 2006-2007 and from 2012-2020

Dìsān Guójì

第三国际

[第三國際]

see 共產國際／共产国际 ( Gòngchǎn Guójì)

liánzhòngsānyuán

连中三元

[連中三元]

(old) to rank first in the imperial examinations at the provincial capital, the national capital and the palace successively
(sports etc) to achieve three successes in a row (three matches in a row, three goals in a match etc)

Xiǎoyuān Huìsān

小渊惠三

[小淵惠三]

Obuchi Keizo (1937-2000), Japanese politician, prime minister 1998-2000

dìsānzhuàngtài

第三状态

[第三狀態]

suboptimal health status

Sānběi Fánghùlín

三北防护林

[三北防護林]

Green Wall of China, a massive afforestation program on the eastern margin of the Gobi Desert aimed at stopping the desert's expansion, started in 1978 and planned to be completed by 2050

wúfēngsānchǐlàng

无风三尺浪

[無風三尺浪]

lit. large waves in windless conditions (idiom)
fig. trouble arising unexpectedly

sānhéyīyìmiáo

三合一疫苗

[三合一疫苗]

DTP vaccination

sānlínsuānxiàngān

三磷酸腺苷

[三磷酸腺苷]

adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

sānjiānshānzhǐjiǎn

三尖杉酯碱

[三尖杉酯鹼]

harringtonine (chemistry)

sānxiāojījiǎběn

三硝基甲苯

[三硝基甲苯]

trinitrotoluene (TNT)

sānfēnzhōngrèdù

三分钟热度

[三分鐘熱度]

brief period of enthusiasm
flash in the pan

gōngsīsānmíngzhì

公司三明治

[公司三明治]

club sandwich

yīmǔ-sānfēndì

一亩三分地

[一畝三分地]

a piece of land of 1.3 mu 畝／亩 (mǔ)
(fig.) one's turf

sānqīkāidìnglùn

三七开定论

[三七開定論]

thirty percent failure, seventy percent success, the official PRC verdict on Mao Zedong

sānliánshìfāpiào

三联式发票

[三聯式發票]

(Tw) triplicate uniform invoice, a type of receipt 統一發票／统一发票 (tǒngyīfāpiào) issued to a business or organization with a VAT identification number or 統一編號／统一编号 (tǒngyībiānhào)

sānsèzǐluólán

三色紫罗兰

[三色紫羅蘭]

pansy

yīwènsānbùzhī

一问三不知

[一問三不知]

lit. to reply "don't know" whatever the question (idiom)
fig. absolutely no idea of what's going on
complete ignorance

sānzhǐzhuómùniǎo

三趾啄木鸟

[三趾啄木鳥]

(bird species of China) Eurasian three-toed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus)

Huáng Shígōng Sānlüè

黄石公三略

[黃石公三略]

"Three Strategies of Huang Shigong", one of the Seven Military Classics of ancient China

huángjiǎosānzhǐchún

黄脚三趾鹑

[黃腳三趾鶉]

(bird species of China) yellow-legged buttonquail (Turnix tanki)

Zhūjiāng Sānjiǎozhōu

珠江三角洲

[珠江三角洲]

Pearl River Delta (PRD)

Cháng Jiāng Sānjiǎozhōu

长江三角洲

[長江三角洲]

Yangtze River Delta

xiǎosānquàntuìshī

小三劝退师

[小三勸退師]

consultant who breaks up sb's extramarital relationship for a fee

sānsī'érhòuxíng

三思而后行

[三思而後行]

think again and again before acting (idiom); consider carefully in advance

sānshíliùzìmǔ

三十六字母

[三十六字母]

thirty six initial consonants of Song phonetic theory

Qián Jiāsāndàjiā

乾嘉三大家

[乾嘉三大家]

Three great poets of the Qianlong and Jiaqing era (1735-1820), namely: Yuan Mei 袁枚, Jiang Shiquan 蔣士銓／蒋士铨 and Zhao Yi 趙翼／赵翼

sānbǎiliùshíháng

三百六十行

[三百六十行]

all walks of life (idiom)
every trade

sānjiǎocèliángfǎ

三角测量法

[三角測量法]

triangulation (surveying)

sānshíbādùxiàn

三十八度线

[三十八度線]

38th parallel
dividing line agreed at Yalta between US and Soviet zones of influence in Korea, now the DMZ between North and South Korea

sānsuāngānyóuzhǐ

三酸甘油酯

[三酸甘油酯]

triglyceride

Dàjiāng Jiànsānláng

大江健三郎

[大江健三郎]

Oe Kenzaburo (1935-) Japanese novelist and 1994 Nobel laureate

Dōngfāngsān Bóshì

东方三博士

[東方三博士]

the Magi
the Three Wise Kings from the East in the biblical nativity story

Zhèjiāng Sānménxiàn

浙江三门县

[浙江三門縣]

Sanmen County in Zhejiang

fùbùguòsāndài

富不过三代

[富不過三代]

wealth never survives three generations (idiom)

Fǔyuǎnsānjiǎozhōu

抚远三角洲

[撫遠三角洲]

Bolshoi Ussuriisk Island in the Heilongjiang or Amur river, at mouth of the Ussuri River opposite Khabarovsk
same as Heixiazi Island 黑瞎子島／黑瞎子岛 ( Hēixiāzi Dǎo)

zǒnghuìsānmíngzhì

总会三明治

[總會三明治]

(Tw) club sandwich (variant of 總匯三明治／总汇三明治 (zǒnghuìsānmíngzhì))

zháosānbùzháoliǎng

着三不着两

[著三不著兩]

scatter-brained
thoughtless

Tàizǐshísānfēng

太子十三峰

[太子十三峰]

thirteen peaks of Meili Snow Mountains in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture 迪慶藏族自治州／迪庆藏族自治州 ( Díqìng Zàngzú Zìzhìzhōu), Yunnan
also written 梅里雪山 ( Méilǐ Xuěshān)

sānshí'èrwèiyuán

三十二位元

[三十二位元]

32-bit (computing)

shìyàosānfēndú

是药三分毒

[是藥三分毒]

every medicine has its side effect

sānpēicéngdòngwù

三胚层动物

[三胚層動物]

triploblastic animals (having three germ layers)

sāndàoméicǎowú

三道眉草鹀

[三道眉草鵐]

(bird species of China) meadow bunting (Emberiza cioides)

sānxiàwǔchú'èr

三下五除二

[三下五除二]

three, set five remove two (abacus rule)
efficiently
quickly and easily

sānqī'èrshíyī

三七二十一

[三七二十一]

three sevens are twenty-one (idiom)
the facts of the matter
the actual situation

děngyāosānjiǎoxíng

等腰三角形

[等腰三角形]

isosceles triangle

děngbiānsānjiǎoxíng

等边三角形

[等邊三角形]

equilateral triangle

Bǎimùdàsānjiǎo

百慕大三角

[百慕大三角]

Bermuda Triangle

Tángshī Sānbǎi Shǒu

唐诗三百首

[唐詩三百首]

Three Hundred Tang Poems, an anthology collected around 1763 by Sun Zhu 孫誅／孙诛 ( Sūn Zhū)

zhíjiǎosānjiǎoxíng

直角三角形

[直角三角形]

right-angled triangle

Láiqíyē Sānshì

莱齐耶三世

[萊齊耶三世]

Letsie III of Lesotho

zǒnghuìsānmíngzhì

总汇三明治

[總匯三明治]

(Tw) club sandwich

Bā Er Sān Pàozhàn

八二三炮战

[八二三炮戰]

bombardment of Kinmen by PRC forces that started August 23rd 1958, also called the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis

Sāndǎo Yóujìfū

三岛由纪夫

[三島由紀夫]

Mishima Yukio (1925-1970), Japanese author, pen name of (平岡公威／平冈公威, Hiraoka Kimitake)

Táoyuán Sān Jiéyì

桃园三结义

[桃園三結義]

Oath of the Peach Garden, sworn by Liu Bei 劉備／刘备 ( Liú Bèi), Zhang Fei 張飛／张飞 ( Zhāng Fēi) and Guan Yu 關羽／关羽 ( Guān Yǔ) at the start of the Romance of Three Kingdoms 三國演義／三国演义 ( Sānguó Yǎnyì)

lùhǎikōngsānjūn

陆海空三军

[陸海空三軍]

army, navy, air force

fànzhūjiāngsānjiǎo

泛珠江三角

[泛珠江三角]

the Pan-Pearl river delta (economic zone including the 5 provinces around Guangzhou and Hong Kong)

sānduìsāndòuniú

三对三斗牛

[三對三鬥牛]

three-on-three basketball game

èrshíyīsāntǐzōnghézhèng

21三体综合症

[21三體綜合症]

trisomy; Down's syndrome

sāncùnbùlànzhīshé

三寸不烂之舌

[三寸不爛之舌]

to have a silver tongue
to have the gift of the gab

Cháng Sānjiǎo Jīngjì Qū

长三角经济区

[長三角經濟區]

Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone (economic region including Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu)

piānsānlúnmótuōchē

偏三轮摩托车

[偏三輪摩托車]

motorbike with sidecar

sānqiāndàqiānshìjiè

三千大千世界

[三千大千世界]

cosmos (Buddhism)

Méigōnghé Sānjiǎozhōu

湄公河三角洲

[湄公河三角洲]

Mekong River Delta

sānjiàntàoshìxīzhuāng

三件套式西装

[三件套式西裝]

three-piece suit

pàsīkǎsānjiǎoxíng

帕斯卡三角形

[帕斯卡三角形]

Pascal's Triangle (math.)

bùděngbiānsānjiǎoxíng

不等边三角形

[不等邊三角形]

scalene triangle

bùguīzésānjiǎoxíng

不规则三角形

[不規則三角形]

scalene triangle (math.)

Sānzì Aìguó Jiàohuì

三自爱国教会

[三自愛國教會]

Three-Self Patriotic Movement, PRC government-sanctioned Protestant church from 1949

Yīluòwǎdǐ Sānjiǎozhōu

伊洛瓦底三角洲

[伊洛瓦底三角洲]

Irrawaddy Delta in south Myanmar (Burma)

yīkū'èrnàosānshàngdiào

一哭二闹三上吊

[一哭二鬧三上吊]

(idiom) to make a terrible scene; to throw a tantrum

rǎnsètǐsānbèitǐzhèng

染色体三倍体症

[染色體三倍體症]

trisomy

cǐdìwúyínsānbǎiliǎng

此地无银三百两

[此地無銀三百兩]

lit. 300 silver taels not hidden here (idiom); fig. to reveal what one intends to hide

sāngèhéshangméishuǐchī

三个和尚没水吃

[三個和尚沒水吃]

see 三個和尚沒水喝／三个和尚没水喝 (sāngèhéshangméishuǐhē)

wúshìbùdēngsānbǎodiàn

无事不登三宝殿

[無事不登三寶殿]

lit. one doesn't visit a temple without a cause (idiom)
fig. to visit sb with an ulterior motive (esp. to ask for sth)

Sānjiāngdòngzú Zìzhìxiàn

三江侗族自治县

[三江侗族自治縣]

Sanjiang Dong autonomous county in Liuzhou 柳州 ( Liǔzhōu), Guangxi

sāngenürényītáixì

三个女人一台戏

[三個女人一臺戲]

three women are enough for a drama (idiom)

sāngèhéshangméishuǐhē

三个和尚没水喝

[三個和尚沒水喝]

lit. three monks have no water to drink (idiom)
fig. everybody's business is nobody's business
(If there is one monk, he will fetch water for himself. If there are two, they will fetch water together. But if there are three or more, none will take it upon himself to fetch water.)

huàdàozuǐbiānliúsānfēn

话到嘴边留三分

[話到嘴邊留三分]

A still tongue makes a wise head. (idiom)

guǎntāsānqī'èrshíyī

管他三七二十一

[管他三七二十一]

who cares
no matter what
regardless of the consequences

huòwènsānjiābùchīkuī

货问三家不吃亏

[貨問三家不吃虧]

see 貨比三家不吃虧／货比三家不吃亏 (huòbǐsānjiābùchīkuī)

Sāndūshuǐzú Zìzhìxiàn

三都水族自治县

[三都水族自治縣]

Sandu Shuizu autonomous county in Qiannan Buyei and Miao autonomous prefecture 黔南州 ( Qiánnánzhōu), Guizhou

sāngènürényīgèxū

三个女人一个墟

[三個女人一個墟]

three women makes a crowd

yī'érzài,zài'érsān

一而再，再而三

[一而再，再而三]

again and again

Sānjiāng Shēngtài Lüyóu Qū

三江生态旅游区

[三江生態旅遊區]

Sanjiang Ecological Tourist Area in Wenchuan county 汶川縣／汶川县 ( Wènchuānxiàn), northwest Sichuan

wǔjiǎngsìměisānrè'ài

五讲四美三热爱

[五講四美三熱愛]

the five emphases, four beauties and three loves (PRC policy introduced in 1981, including emphasis on manners, beauty of language and love of socialism)

sānjùhuàbùlíběnháng

三句话不离本行

[三句話不離本行]

to talk shop all the time (idiom)

bùguǎnsānqī'èrshíyī

不管三七二十一

[不管三七二十一]

regardless of the consequences
recklessly relying on a hopelessly optimistic forecast

xīnguānshàngrènsānbǎhuǒ

新官上任三把火

[新官上任三把火]

(of a newly appointed official) to make bold changes on assuming office (idiom)

huòbǐsānjiābùchīkuī

货比三家不吃亏

[貨比三家不吃虧]

shop around first and you won't get ripped off (idiom)

jīnbèisānzhǐzhuómùniǎo

金背三趾啄木鸟

[金背三趾啄木鳥]

(bird species of China) common flameback (Dinopium javanense)

sānrénxíng,bìyǒuwǒshī

三人行，必有我师

[三人行，必有我師]

lit. if three walk together, one can be my teacher (idiom, from the Analects of Confucius)
you have sth to learn from everyone

Sān Dà Jìlü Bā Xiàng Zhùyì

三大纪律八项注意

[三大紀律八項注意]

the Three Rules of Discipline and Eight Points for Attention, a military doctrine issued in 1928 by Mao Zedong for the Red Army, which included a number of injunctions demanding high standards of behavior and respect for civilians during wartime

xiànpiàolìnghégānsānlínsuān

腺嘌呤核苷三磷酸

[腺嘌呤核苷三磷酸]

adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

Chángjiāng Sānjiǎozhōu Jīngjì Qū

长江三角洲经济区

[長江三角洲經濟區]

Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone (economic region including Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu)

èrlüyìsānjùqíngsuānnà

二氯异三聚氰酸钠

[二氯異三聚氰酸鈉]

sodium dichloroisocyanurate

sāntiāndǎyú,liǎngtiānshàiwǎng

三天打鱼，两天晒网

[三天打魚，兩天曬網]

lit. to fish for three days and sun-dry the nets for two days (proverb)
fig. not to persevere in doing sth
to do sth by fits and starts

sāntiānbùdǎ,shàngfángjiēwǎ

三天不打，上房揭瓦

[三天不打，上房揭瓦]

three days without a beating, and a child will scale the roof to rip the tiles (idiom)
spare the rod, spoil the child

sānrénxíng,zébìyǒuwǒshī

三人行，则必有我师

[三人行，則必有我師]

If three walk together, one of them can teach me sth (Confucius)

bùxiàoyǒusān,wúhòuwéidà

不孝有三，无后为大

[不孝有三，無後為大]

There are three ways to be unfilial; having no sons is the worst. (citation from Mencius 孟子 ( Mèngzǐ))

sānshíliùjì,zǒuwéishàngjì

三十六计，走为上计

[三十六計，走為上計]

see 三十六計，走為上策／三十六计，走为上策 (sānshíliùjì,zǒuwéishàngcè)

yīrìbùjiàn,rúgésānqiū

一日不见，如隔三秋

[一日不見，如隔三秋]

one day apart seems like three years (idiom)

sānshíliùjì,zǒuwéishàngcè

三十六计，走为上策

[三十六計，走為上策]

of the thirty-six stratagems, the best option is to flee (idiom)
the best thing to do is leave

bīngdòngsānchǐ,fēiyīrìzhīhán

冰冻三尺，非一日之寒

[冰凍三尺，非一日之寒]

three feet of ice does not form in a single day (idiom); Rome wasn't built in a day

bǎishèngnánlüdí,sānzhénǎiliángyī

百胜难虑敌，三折乃良医

[百勝難慮敵，三折乃良醫]

(a line from a poem by the Tang poet Liu Yuxi 劉禹錫／刘禹锡 ( Liú Yǔxī)) one gains very little insight into one's enemy from a hundred victories, but he who breaks his arm three times will be a good doctor
(fig.) one learns more from one's failures than from one's successes

sānshíniánhédōng,sānshíniánhéxī

三十年河东，三十年河西

[三十年河東，三十年河西]